Plastic shoe tree



1966 R. E. JOHNSON 3,263,252

PLASTIC SHOE TREE Filed Oct. 15, 1965 I5 Sheets-Sheet 1 E1 3 INVENTOR.

ROLAND E. JOHNSON BY MAHONEY, MILLER 8 RAMBO BYM ATTORNEYS Aug. 2, 1966 R. E. JQHNSON 3,263,252

PLASTIC SHOE TREE Filed 001;. 15, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. ROLAND E. JOHNSON BY MAHONEY, MILLER a RAMBO BY W W ATTORNEYS 1966 R. E. JOHNSON 3,263,252

PLASTIC SHOE TREE Filed Oct. 15, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet :5

INVENTOR. Egg 1E ROLAND E. JOHNSON BY MAHONEY, MILLER 8 RAMBO BY W W- ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,263,252 PLASTIC SHOE TREE Roland E. Johnson, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor to Columbus Plastic Products, Inc., Columbus, Ohio, :1 corporation of Ohio Filed Oct. 15, 1965, Ser. No. 496,593 Claims. (Cl. 12116.6)

This invention relates, in general, to a shoe tree. It relates, more specifically, to a novel shoe tree construction which provides an advantageous transverse stretching effect in addition and independently of a longitudinal stretching force for more adequately maintaining a desired shoe shape.

The prior art shoe trees which have been generally utilized are of the type which provide only longitudinal stretching when inserted in a shoe. These shoe trees of the prior art normally comprise a toe section which is insertable in the toe portion of a shoe, and a jointed or longitudinally adjustable heel section incorporating a selflocking feature which is adapted to engage the heel portion of a shoe and, when in a locked position, provide the necessary longitudinal stretching force. There have also been attempts to devise practical shoe tree constructions which will provide a transverse stretching force in addition to the usual longitudinal stretching force. The transverse stretching enhances the use of a shoe tree in that a more complete support of the toe section or portion of a shoe is obtained and will thus more properly maintain the desired shape. In the known prior art shoe tree constructions, however, the transverse stretching effect is obtained as a consequence of the longitudinal stretching force. This is accomplished, usually, by means of mechanical devices, such as cams or lever arms, which are arranged to be responsive to longitudinal stretching force and to simultaneously apply a transverse stretching force. The disadvantage of the transverse stretching mechanisms of the prior art'shoe trees is the dependency of the transverse stretching effect on the magnitude of the longitudinal stretching force. This often results in the application of a transverse stretching force which is greater or less than is required to maintain the desired shoe shape.

It is, therefore, the primary objective of this invention to provide a novel shoe tree construction which is adapted to provide a transverse stretching force which is independ ent of the longitudinal stretching force applied to the shoe' for maintenance of the desired shape.

It is another object of this invention to provide a shoe tree having a toe section insertable in the forward portion of a shoe and a heel section engageable with the heel portion of a shoe to apply the desired longitudinal force when in a locked position and to cooperatively engage the toe section, when in such locked position, to apply a transverse stretching force.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a shoe tree having a toe section adapted to be inserted in the forward portion of a shoe and a heel section of the self-locking type and in which the toe section is of unitary construction and is formed from a resilient material permitting flexure of the toe section in conformity with the interior of the toe section of a shoe in response to a transverse stretching force applied independently of a longitudinal stretching force.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a novel and improved shoe tree having a toe section insertable in the toe portion of a shoe and an articulated heel section adapted to be self-locking in an operable position and is of unitary construction formed from a suitable synthetic resin material forming an integral hinge structure between the articulated elements of the heel section.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will be readily apparent from the following detailed description and accompanying drawings of a preferred embodiment of the shoe tree.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a shoe tree embodying the principles of this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a top plan View of the shoe tree on an enlarged scale.

FIGURE 3 is a vertical, longitudinal sectional view taken along lines 33 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a vertical, longitudinal sectional View similar to FIGURE 3 but showing the shoe tree operatively positioned within a shoe.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged, transverse sectional View taken along lines 55 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged, transverse sectional view taken along lines 66 of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary, vertical sectional view taken along lines 77 of FIGURE 2 showing the hinge structure on an enlarged scale.

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged, transverse sectional view taken along lines 8-8 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary, longitudinal sectional view, taken along lines 9-9 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary, top plan view similar to FIGURE 2 with the toe section and heel section disassembled.

Having reference to the drawings, there is disclosed in the several figures a preferred embodiment of a shoe tree of this invention incorporating the advantageous principles of construction. This novel shoe tree, as can be best seen from FIGURE 1, comprises two unitary elements which are generally designated herein as the toe section 11 and the heel section 12. The toe section 11, which is constructed to generally conform to the interior surface of the toe portion of a shoe, and the heel section 12, which is adapted to engage the heel portion of a shoe and operable to exert a longitudinal force, are pivotally connected to permit their relative swinging movement facilitating insertion or removal of the shoe tree from the shoe and application of the transverse stretching force. In the present illustrated embodiment of the shoe tree, both the toe and heel sections 11 and 12 are preferably formed from a suitable synthetic resin material by an appropriate molding process, thereby providing toe and heel sections which are of unitary construction. The material utilized for fabrication of the shoe tree is of a type having a characteristic resiliency when formed in thin web section to permit the desired expansion of the toe section and flexing of the articulated heel section.

In accordance with this invention, the toe section 11 of molded construction, comprises an elongated channelshaped rib 13 which extends longitudinally of the toe section and a pair of laterally projecting side elements 14. The channel-shaped rib 13 is formed with laterallyspaced, upstanding side walls 15 which extend longitudinally of the rib and are interconnected along their lower marginal edge portions by a horizontally-disposed web 16. As can be best seen from the transverse sectional views of FIGURES 5 and 6, the rib side walls 15, while disposed in generally parallel relationship to the longitudinal axis of the rib, are relatively upwardly divergent with the inner wall surfaces thereof being sloped outwardly. Each side wall is also formed in two sections which are conveniently identified herein as the lower section 15a and the upper section 15b. Both sections, 15:: and 15b, are integrally formed with the upper sections being laterally offset outwardly of the lower sections with the juncture thereof forming a shoulder 17, extending horizontally along the inner face of the side wall in upwardly spaced relationship to the interconnecting web 16. Each of the side elements 14 is of an open-bottom, shellform having an arcuately curved outer surface which is complementary to the interior surface of the forward or toe portion of a shoe. This complementary configuration is generally illustrated in FIGURE 6 in which the general form of the shoe is shown in broken lines. Each side element 14 is carried by a respective one of the rib side walls 15 and is attached to the side wall along the upper marginal edge portion of the upper section 15b. Preferably, the horizontal Web 16 interconnecting the rib side walls 15 does not extend the entire length of the side walls but terminates a distance rearwardly from the terminal points formed by the side walls and the side elell'l'lCI'ltS 14 connected therewith. This construction permits flexing of the forward portions of the side walls and adjacent portions of the side elements relatively inward to permit a particular shoe tree to accommodate variations that may occur in varied styles of shoes.

The heel section 12 which is designed to cooperate with the toe section to provide the necessary longitudinallydirected forces and the advantageous transverse stretching forces to expand the toe section 11 into conformity with the interior of the shoe is integrally formed with two relatively articulated elements which are designated as the spacer bar 20 and the heel block 21. The spacer bar 20 is also of channel-shaped construction having longitudinally extending, upstanding side walls 22 which are disposed in laterally spaced relationship. The side walls 22 of the spacer bar are connected at their lower edges by an interconnecting web 23 and at their forward end by an end wall 24. Each side wall 22, while extending longitudinally in parallel relationship to the longitudinal axis of the spacer bar, is disposed in upwardly divergent relationship to the opposite side wall 22. Also, each side wall 22 is formed in two sections similar to the walls of the rib 13 and which are designated as the lower and upper sections 22a and 22b, respectively, with the upper section being laterally offset from the lower section a relatively greater distance from the center line thereof thus forming a shoulder 25 at their juncture which extends longitudinally of the spacer bar. Lateral flexing of the side walls 22 is substantially prevented through formation of the spacer bar elements with appropriate cross-sectional area.

Also formed with the spacer bar 20 at the forward end thereof are a pair of opposed, laterally-projecting trunnions 26 which are adapted to engage the toe section 11 and form a pivotal connection therewith. For this purpose, the upper section 15b of each rib side wall 15 is formed with a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures 27 which are adapted to receive a respective trunnion 26. The apertures 27 formed in the opposed rib side walls 15 are aligned in a transverse direction to receive the opposed trunnions 26. Providing a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures 27 permits a relative longitudinal adjustment of the shoe tree to accommodate a particular shoe size. By positioning the trunnions 26 in a specific pair of opposed apertures 27, the shoe tree can be adjusted to advantageously fit a particular shoe.

Connected to the spacer bar 20 is the heel block 21 which comprises a bottom plate 28 and an upstanding flange 29 extending about the periphery thereof providing structural rigidity. The plate 28 and the flange 29 are arcuately curved at the rear portion to generally conform to the curved, inner wall surface of the heel portion of a shoe. A vertically disposed extension of the flange 29 projects a distance downwardly from the plate 28 along each longitudinal edge thereof forming a contact edge 30 which is engageable with the bottom surface of the heel of a shoe S, as illustrated in FIGURE 4. This contact edge 30 is disposed at an angle relative to the bottom plate 28 and will thus maintain the rearmost arcuately curved portions of the bottom plate 28 and flange 29 at an elevated position relative to the bottom of the shoe heel when the shoe tree is inserted in the shoe. This will assure effective engagement of the heel block 21 with the heel portion of the shoe for application of the longitudinal stretching force and to assist in maintenance of the heel section 12 in a locked configuration when inserted in the shoe.

As previously indicated, the heel section 12 is of the articulated, self-locking type and is designed to incorporate the well-known past-center locking feature. This type of locking is widely utilized in shoe trees to perform the locking function and maintain the shoe tree in an operable position after insertion in the shoe. In this construction, the heel block 21 and spacer bar 20 are interconnected by a hinge structure 31 which will permit their relative swinging movement in a vertical plane. This hinge structure 31 which is best shown in the enlarged, longitudinal sectional view of FIGURE 7, comprises an integrally formed, flexible web which interconnects the two elements. The resilient, synthetic resin material preferred for molding of the heel section 12 is of the polypropylene type. This type of resin, when formed in relatively thin sections, has the inherent characteristic of permitting unlimited flexing without destruction of the molecular bonding structure.

In order to provide the self-locking, past-center locking feature, the hinge structure 31 is relatively disposed to the elements of the heel section 12 as to be positioned at one side or the other of a longitudinal center line extending between the end support points of the heel section 12 which points, in this instance, are the trunnions 26 and the rearmost portions of the flange 29 surrounding the heel block 21. In the unlocked configuration illustrated in FIGURE 3, it can be seen that the hinge structure 31 will be above this longitudinal center line while in the locked configuration of FIGURE 4, the hinge structure will be disposed a distance below. By restricting the relative swinging movement of the heel block 21 and the spacer bar 20 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG- URES 3 and 4, the heel section 12 will be maintained in the locked configuration when pressure is applied longitudinal-1y of the heel section. Limitation of the swinging movement of the heel block 21 and spacer bar 20 is effected by means of opposed bosses 32 formed on adjacent end surfaces of the respective heel block 21 and spacer bar 20. For this purpose, the spacer bar 20 is provided with generally upwardly extending end wall elements 33 which also project a distance laterally from the side walls 22 of the spacer bar. The opposed bosses 32 are formed with cooperatively engageable surfaces which limit the relative swinging movement of the heel block 21 and spacer bar 20 in a clockwise direction, as illustrated in FIGURE 4. Manual operation of the shoe tree is facilitated by laterally projecting finger rest flanges 34 which are formed with the spacer bar side walls 22 at the upper edge adjacent the end wall elements 33.

Utilization of the shoe tree of this invention to obtain the desired longitudinal and transverse stretching is a relatively simple operation in that it is merely necessary to insert the shoe tree within a shoe and adjust the heel section 12 to the operable locked position. In the unlocked position, as shown in FIGURES 1 and 3, the heel section 12 will be pivoted to an upwardly inclined position relative to the toe section 11 resulting in separation of the side walls 22 of the spacer bar 20 from the opposed side walls of the channel-shaped rib 13. This is illustrated best in FIGURE 5 with the side walls 15 arranged in a normally unflexed configuration as are the side elements 14 carried by the channel-shaped rib. Prior to insertion of the shoe tree within a shoe, the heel section 12 will be adjusted longitudinally of the toe section 11 by means of trunnions 26 and the apertures 27 to provide a shoe tree having an appropriate length. This adjustment is accomplished by spreading apart the rib side walls 15 to disengage the trunnions 26 from their respective apertures 27 and permit their reinsertion in the desired apertures. The flexible characteristics of the material from which the toe section is fabricated permit this flexing of the side walls 15 of the rib.

Subsequent to the preliminary adjustment of the longitudinal length of the shoe tree, the shoe tree is inserted in the shoe by first projecting the toe section 11 into the forward portion of the shoe. This insertion of the toe section 11 into the shoe is facilitated when the heel section 12 is swung to its upper position, as shown in FIG- URE 3, as the side walls 15 of the rib 13 are in their narrowest configuration and the side elements 14 will occupy the smallest cross-sectional area. After insertion of the toe section 11 into the shoe, the heel section 12 is then swung downwardly to position the rearwardmost end of the heel block 21 in engagement or closely adjacent to the inner wall surface of the shoe heel. In this position one end of the contact edge 30 will be in engagement with the bottom surface of the heel and the heel section 12 will be generally arranged in the configuration as indicated in FIGURE 3. With the shoe tree thus preliminarily positioned, it is only necessary to actuate the locking mechanism to complete the insertion and the application of the longitudinal stretching force to the shoe and, in accordance with this invention, the transverse stretching force as applied to the forward portion of the shoe. This locking action is accomplished by merely pushing downwardly on the heel section 12 at the juncture of the heel block 21 and spacer bar 20. This is conveniently accomplished through application of pressure to the finger flanges 34 formed with the spacer bar adjacent the end portion thereof connected to the heel block. As the heel section 12 is pushed into its locking position, the end of the heel block 21 being in engagement with the heel of the shoe will exert a longitudinal force on the shoe tree and further project the toe section 11 into the forward portions of the shoe and apply a resultant longitudinal stretching force to the shoe. When the heel section 12 has been displaced to its locking configuration similar to that shown in FIGURE 4, the insertion operation will be complete and the shoe tree will remain in an operative position within the shoe.

Simultaneously with the insertion of a shoe tree constructed in accordance with this invention to provide the longitudinal stretching force to maintain the desired shape of the shoe, the shoe tree will automatically apply a transverse stretching force to the forward portion of the shoe. This is accomplished by engagement of the spacer bar 20 with the channel-shaped rib 13 in interleaved relationship resulting in expansion of the toe section 11 in a transverse direction. This results from the wedging elfect of interleaving the spacer bar 20 with the side walls 15 of the rib. In the normal, unflexed configuration, as shown in FIG- URE 5, the spacer bar 20 will be swung out of engagement with the inner surfaces of the rib side walls 15 and the side walls 15 will, therefore, be relatively unflexed. As the spacer bar 20 is swung downwardly during the operation forcing the heel section 12 into its locked configuration, the lower sections 22a of the side Walls of the spacer bar will be brought into engagement with the lower sections 15a of the rib side walls. Through appropriate dimensioning of the rib 13 and the spacer bar 20, engagement of the inclined surfaces of the lower sections 15a of the rib side walls and the lower section 22a of the spacer barside walls will result in lateral flexing of the side walls 15 to the position as shown in FIGURE 6. In this position, the shoulders 25 and 17 of the spacer bar and the rib 13 will be in engagement and restrict further pivotal movement of the spacer bar 20 relative to the toe section 11. This lateral flexing of the side walls 15 of the rib would normally result in lateral or transverse displacement of the side elements 14. However, in the restrictive confines of the shoe, the side elements 14 will be in engagement with the shoe and the lateral dis placement of the side walls 15 will result in the application of a transverse force on the forward portion of the shoe. Such a transversely applied force will provide an advantageous stretching of the shoe for proper retention of the desired shape. This stretching in a transverse direction for proper retention of shape is accomplished without relationship to the longitudinal stretching forces applied by the shoe tree. Accordingly, a greater or less force may be applied in a longitudinal direction as is required through appropriate adjustment of the trunnions 26 and apertures 27 without affecting the application of the transversely directed forces.

As is readily apparent, from the foregoing detailed description of the preferred embodiment of this invention, a novel and improved shoe tree is provided which will provide a longitudinal stretching force and a transverse stretching force to maintain the desired shape of the shoe. In accordance with this invention, the transverse force is applied independently of the longitudinal force and the effect thereof is not related to the longitudinal stretching force. This permits the advantageous adjustment of the shoe tree to provide the necessary longitudinal stretching force without affecting the transverse force.

According to the provisions of the patent statutes, the principles of this invention have been explained and have been illustrated and described in what is now considered to represent the best embodiment. However, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described.

Having thus described this invention, what is claimed is:

1. A shoe ,tree comprising a toe section adapted for insertion in the forward portion of a shoe and including an elongated channel-shaped rib extending longitudinally thereof having a pair of laterally spaced, upstanding side walls interconnected along their lower longitudinal edges with the inner wall surfaces being upwardly divergent, and a laterally projecting side element carried by each of said rib side walls at the upper marginal edge portion with said side elements forming a complementary surface for engaging the interior surface of a shoe, said toe section being formed from a resilient material to permit relative lateral displacement of the upper marginal edge portions of said rib side Walls and said side elements, and a heel section connected with said toe section and selectively engageable with the heel portion of a shoe for applying a longitudinal stretching force to the shoe when disposed in an operable position relative to the shoe, said heel section including an elongated spacer bar pivotally connected at one end to said toe section for swinging movement in a plane aligned with the longitudinal axis of said rib into interleaved relationship with said rib side walls when said heel section is disposed in an operable position, said spacer bar being formed with longitudinal, upwardly divergent side wall surfaces which are cooperatively engageable with the opposed inner wall surfaces of said rib side walls when interleaved therewith to effect lateral displacement of said side elements and thereby exert a transverse stretching force on the forward portion of the shoe.

2. A shoe tree according to claim 1 wherein said rib side walls each have a multiplicity of longitudinally spaced apertures formed therein with the apertures in the opposed side walls being arranged in transversely aligned pairs and said spacer bar is provided with a pair of opposed, laterally projecting trunnions which are selectively engageable with a respective pair of said apertures.

3. A shoe tree according to claim 1 wherein said heel section includes a heel block disposed in longitudinal alignment with said spacer bar and hingedly connected thereto at the end opposite connection to said toe section for relative swinging movement in a vertical plane aligned with the longitudinal axis of said rib, said heel block being movable into locked relationship with said spacer bar 10 block and said spacer bar are relatively connected by a hinge structure to form a past-center locking arrangement and include means limiting relative swinging movement in a given direction when in said operable position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 754,047 3/1904 Burt et a1 12116.6 X 2,018,408 10/1935 Legge 12-11626 2,361,531 10/1944 Clausing 12116.6 2,510,315 6/1950 M alberg 121 17.4

3,076,986 2/1963 Mack 12117.4

FRANK J. COHEN, Primary Examiner.

P. D. LAWSON, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A SHOE TREE COMPRISING A TOE SECTION ADAPTED FOR INSERTION IN THE FORWARD PORTION OF A SHOE AND INCLUDING AN ELONGATED CHANNEL-SHAPED RIB EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY THEREOF HAVING A PAIR OF LATERALLY SPACED, UPSTANDING SIDE WALLS INTERCONNECTED ALONG THEIR LOWER LONGITUDINAL EDGES WITH THE INNER WALL SURFACES BEING UPWARDLY DIVERGENT, AND A LATERALLY PROJECTING SIDE ELEMENT CARRIED BY EACH OF SAID RIB SIDE WALLS AT THE UPPER MARGINAL EDGE PORTION WITH SAID SIDE ELEMEMTS FORMING A COMPLEMENTARY SURFACE FOR ENGAGING THE INTERIOR SURFACE OF A SHOE, SAID TOE SECTION BEING FORMED FROM A RESILIENT MATERIAL TO PERMIT RELATIVE LATERAL DISPLACEMENT OF THE UPPER MARGINAL EDGE PORTIONS OF SAID RIB SIDE WALLS AND SAID SIDE ELEMENTS, AND A HEEL SECTION CONNECTED WITH SAID TOE SECTION AND SELECTIVELY ENGAGEABLE WITH THE HEEL PORTION OF A SHOE FOR APPLYING A LONGITUDINAL STRETCHING FORCE TO THE SHOE WHEN DISPOSED IN AN OPERABLE POSITION RELATIVE TO THE SHOE, SAID HEEL SECTION INCLUDING AN ELONGATED SPACER BAR PIVOTALLY CONNECTED AT ONE END OF SAID TOE SECTION FOR SWINGING MOVEMENT IN A PLANE ALIGNED WITH THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF SAID RIB INTO INTERLEAVED RELATIONSHIP WITH SAID RIB SIDE WALLS WHEN SAID HEEL SECTION IS DISPOSED IN AN OPERABLE POSITION, SAID SPACER BAR BEING FORMED WITH LONGITUDINAL, UPWARDLY DIVERGENT SIDE WALL SURFACES WHICH ARE COOPERATIVELY ENGAGEABLE WITH THE OPPOSED INNER WALL SURFACES OF SAID RIB SIDE WALLS WHEN INTERLEAVED THEREWITH TO EFFECT LATERAL DISPLACEMENT OF SAID SIDE ELEMENTS AND THEREBY EXERT A TRANSVERSE STRETCHING FORCE ON THE FORWARD PORTION OF THE SHOE. 